Brut Brut (Unilever) 1964 Eau de Toilette

Once, I ordered this cheap, old-school, and still available fragrance and returned it. Simply because of a childhood association that I couldn't quite place. However, I have since freed myself somewhat from what shaped my fragrance preferences in my early years. Because: A lot of things were better back then, and just because something is considered old-fashioned doesn’t make it worse, right?

"Brut" contains a combination of notes that I find simply fantastic, but I also enjoy (since my childhood) smelling fennel tea bags! ;-) I suspect it’s this anise-wormwood-jasmine blend that somehow kicks me. This is also found (partly synthetically produced) in the no longer manufactured fragrances "D&G By Man" and "Jil Sander Background." At least that’s what MY nose tells me! :-)

Anyone who thinks of chest hair, mustaches, flashy cars, and/or aviator glasses when they hear "Brut" is, in my opinion, completely misguided - similar to "Chanel pour Monsieur." These fragrances are the honorable exception to the kind of heavy hitters that Sean Connery or Burt Reynolds might have worn back in the day, those "leather bombers" that may have reminded some of "pimps & hookers" ...

What I mean is: The year of release is not decisive here, as a fragrance like "Brut" stands on its own, even if it does seem a bit out of time. Even the niche scent, like "Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay," strikes a similar chord to "Brut." If only I could describe it a bit better! :-( Somehow floral, yet still masculine, quite ethereal, almost camphor-like, without going overboard. It may contain traces of leather, soap, moss, and powder (which I usually don’t like), but just traces ... Maybe that’s what makes this fragrance so interesting for me!?

One can classify "Brut" as something that takes getting used to or old-school, but I honestly can’t imagine anyone finding this fragrance unpleasant, neither men nor women. Just give it a try: 100 ml is actually available for under 10 euros! You can’t go wrong with it, at most you might rub someone the wrong way if your significant other says, "I’m used to something different!" ;-)